Ukraine prosecutor opens investigation into Russian air strikes By Reuters

THE HAGUE (Reuters) – Ukraine’s high prosecutor on Thursday mentioned his workplace had opened legal proceedings regarding Russian missile strikes that struck Kyiv and cities throughout Ukraine this week.

Talking at a joint press convention with Worldwide Prison Courtroom prosecutor Karim Khan in The Hague, Prosecutor Basic Andriy Kostin described the strikes since Monday as “a traditional act of terror” by Russia.

He mentioned the greater than 112 Russian missile strikes, Moscow’s largest aerial offensive for the reason that begin of its invasion on Feb. 24, had killed 17 individuals and injured 93.

“All the hits of each missile, each drone, each harm of civil infrastructure, each (…) Ukrainian who was killed or wounded by these missile assaults, all of them are documented and legal proceedings have been registered and opened,” he mentioned.

Russia has repeatedly denied intentionally attacking civilians in Ukraine. Moscow additionally denies violating worldwide regulation and has dismissed allegations by Kyiv that Russian troopers have carried out warfare crimes.

Within the not too long ago liberated Kharkiv area of japanese Ukraine prosecutors had discovered a minimum of 11 burial websites together with one mass grave close to the city of Izium and had exhumed 457 our bodies throughout the websites, Kostin mentioned.

An extra two mass graves have been discovered within the Lyman area with some 154 individuals, Ukrainian troopers and civilians, buried there, he added.

The prosecutor’s workplace has 28 investigative groups on the bottom within the not too long ago liberated areas, the place Kostin mentioned retreating Russian troops had left proof of unlawful detention and torture of civilians and unlawful deportations.

ICC prosecutor Khan praised his Ukrainian counterpart and his personal ICC investigation crew on the bottom for persevering with to do their jobs “as missiles rained down” this week.

Khan, who opened an ICC investigation in March, wouldn’t be drawn when requested when his workplace anticipated to file its first case, saying he would solely transfer ahead “when the proof is adequate”.

Khan and Kostin spoke after assembly the Eurojust European prosecutor’s organisation, which arrange a joint investigation into alleged warfare crimes in Ukraine with the participation of Ukraine, the ICC and 6 European Union nations.